John Matthews
WMAL.com
FAIRFAX, VA — (CNN) We’ll have to wait a little longer for a jury to weigh in on the guilt or innocence of Jesse Matthew.
The 33-year-old suspect in last year’s murder of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham had been on trial this week in a separate case – the 2005 kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman in Fairfax City. That trial came to an abrupt end Wednesday when a court recess ended with an announcement by Matthew’s attorneys that he had agreed to an Alford plea in the case.
An Alford plea is an acknowledgement by the defendant that prosecutors have gathered insurmountable evidence in a case, without an admission of guilt. After the plea was offered, Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge David Schell accepted the plea, bringing the case to an abrupt end.
Former federal prosecutor Joseph DiGenova tells WMAL he believes defense attorneys accepted the Alford plea in a bid to receive a favorable sentence, and to gear up for what will be an even more formidable task – defending Matthew as he faces capital murder charges in the death of Hannah Graham.
“They’ve come to the conclusion that they didn’t want to roll the dice with a stiffer sentence,” said DiGenova. “They’re basically going to seek mercy at this point,” he added.
The Alford plea came after prosecutors had methodically laid out a thorough case against Matthew that included DNA evidence placing him at the crime scene.
Matthew will continue to be held without bond pending his sentencing October 2nd.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Pool/Washington Post)
